Jimmy Harper was the third Briton to qualify as a rotary-wing pilot. In 1940 he became an instructor on Cierva Autogyros. He later became CFI at the RAF's No1 Helicopter Training School at Andover. He was a test pilot at the Airborne Forces Experimental School.
After leaving the service he turned his attention to flying helicopters commercially. He became the Aviation Mangager and Chief Pilot of Pest Control Ltd. The company was a significant aerial pest contol operator.
